Christmas Comes Early: a Newt Nomination?

Good news, Democrats: a new national poll, this one courtesy of Quinnipiac University, puts cadaverous self-published author Newt Gingrich at the front of the Republican presidential pack. The Hillreports that among likely G.O.P. voters, “Gingrich polled at 26 percent, up 16 percent from the November 2nd poll in which he took only 10 percent. Mitt Romney came in second at 22 percent, down from 23 percent in the previous poll. Herman Cain … fell from 30 percent three weeks ago to only 14 percent.”

Rick Santorum came in at a disappointing “Which one’s he?” Jon Huntsman dropped off precipitously and is now polling at “Who?” Michele Bachmann held steady at a guttural cackle and Rick Perry dipped to a lethargically raised right eyebrow.